Banteer finish strongly to see off battling Millstreet

REIGNING champions Banteer timed their run to the finishing line brilliantly to edge out Millstreet in Round 1 to the E Tarrant and Sons Skoda Duhallow JAHC at Kanturk.

All through the hour, Millstreet without county player Mark Ellis were up for the battle and looked capable of creating a surprise on holding a lead on the scoreboard. However, Banteer dug their heels and finished in style and an all important late goal from Kevin Tarrant snatched the dividends.

When Millstreet reflect on this encounter, they will be left to rue the fact that they weren’t clinical enough to put more scores on the board. Banteer had appeared the more settled side early on to jump ahead on points to Luke Philpott and Denis Roche.

Millstreet brought a spirited response yet for a spell, poor shooting from play and frees limited their impact. Still, the challengers looked the more convincing side, owing much to the strong play of David Barrett, Darren Kiely, Michael Vaughan and Tomás Walsh.

And their cause was boosted on Muiris O’Connor placing Jamie Kelleher to goal and with Walsh finding his radar, it helped Millstreet enjoy a 1-9 to 0-8 grip at the break. The battle for supremacy waged in the summer sunshine on the restart, the sides traded points, Millstreet maintaining a 1-13 to 0-13 grip by the three quarter mark.

Banteer seldom played up to form, facing a challenge that they took on with commendable determination. The influence of the Kearney brothers along with Colm Coughlan, David Murphy and Philpott became more pronounced.

And Banteer were right back in the game, a Philpott shot blocked by Millstreet ‘keeper Patrick Dineen only for Roche to follow up and net the rebound for the champions nudge ahead. Millstreet recovered from the body blow, a pair of Walsh points regained the lead.

Sensing danger, a more experienced Banteer upped the gears to finish strongly, Tarrant showed his predatory instincts to carve open the Millstreet rearguard and finish sweetly to the net before Roche added the insurance point.

Banteer march onto Round 2 and a meeting against Kilbrin, for Millstreet its the back door and an engagement against Kanturk to determine who remains in the campaign.

BANTEER: C Tarrant; J Twohig, M Kearney, C Coughlan; D Kearney, R O’Connor, Conor Murphy; J Sexton, D Murphy 0-2; E O’Flynn 0-1, K Tarrant 1-1, L Philpott 0-10(0-7f, 0-2’65); Cian Murphy, B O’Keeffe, D Roche 1-3 Subs: D McAulliffe for J Sexton(inj), T O’Callaghan for M Kearney(inj), J McAulliffe for C Murphy

MILLSTREET: P Dineen; T Healy, G McCarthy, K Sheahan; D Barrett, D Kiely, A Murphy 0-1; N Flahive 0-1f, B O’Flynn; T Walsh 0-9(0-2f), M Vaughan 0-4(0-1f), J Kelleher 1-2; M O’Connor, J O’Mahony, T Sheehan 0-1 Sub: D O’Riordan for M O’Connor

REFEREE: E Walsh (Freemount)